Throughout the history of European Art, the tree has been of great importance as a punctuation mark within a composition, to create perspective, to draw attention to the figures, to offer a framework or to give meaning to the subject of the painting or sculpture.
Dead or broken trees can symbolise death, a living tree in contrast can indicate everlasting life or resurrection. In the Garden of Eden, the Tree of Knowledge is crucial to the fall of Adam and Eve. This lecture will explore the myriad of ways in which artists and sculptors such as Giotto, Piero della Francesca, Van Eyck, Bellini, Bernini, Caspar David Friedrich, Constable and many many others, use trees in their work.
Lecturer: Clare Ford-Wille
Clare has an honours degree in History of Art from Birkbeck College, and regular commitments with the Centre of Lifelong Learning, London University, The National Gallery, The Victoria and Albert Museum, Morley College and The City Literary Institute